EDITORIAL: The Merc’s future is in hands of the people of Powell

Posted 12/16/14

But that success story has dimmed in recent months. The Merc is in danger of closing its doors.

The problem, according to board member Diane DeLozier, is not unique to Powell or The Merc. The retail world is evolving, and small stores in …

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EDITORIAL: The Merc’s future is in hands of the people of Powell

Posted

In 2000, Powell rallied to improve local retail shopping.

More than 500 people invested in The Powell Mercantile, together raising more than $400,000 to open a clothing store in downtown. The Merc, as everyone calls it, became both an outlet for people to buy clothing, shoes and other items, and a point of pride that has been hailed nationally as an example of what a community can do.

But that success story has dimmed in recent months. The Merc is in danger of closing its doors.

The problem, according to board member Diane DeLozier, is not unique to Powell or The Merc. The retail world is evolving, and small stores in modest-sized communities face a dual challenge: Competing with chain stores that buy in bulk and can offer prizes that locally owned stores cannot match, and a culture where people find online shopping an easy alternative to going out and browsing through the aisles.

The Merc is not going broke, DeLozier said, but the numbers are headed in the wrong direction. Sales have slumped by 25 to 30 percent in the last five months compared to the 2013-14 fiscal year that ended in June.

The store reduced its size and number of employees, but that might not be enough to keep The Merc alive. While locals have shopped there during this holiday season, for the most part, traffic has gone downhill this year.

A shareholders meeting will be held in January. There are about 800 shares owned by 500 or so people, and every share is equal to a vote.

While the meeting will focus on reviewing and discussing the store’s financials, a decision to plow ahead and find a way to make The Merc viable, or to close its doors, may well be made.

We would like to see the store stay open, both as a service to the community and a reminder that Powell once solved a problem by working together. At the same time, we can understand the realities that the people on the board face.

We urge people to stop and shop at The Merc, and for shareholders to make their voices heard at the meeting. The future of the store, and in many ways the economic health of downtown Powell, are in your hands.

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